: Negatively charged particles that orbit the nucleus in specific regions called shells or orbitals. They are much smaller than protons and neutrons. Key Characteristics
An atom is the smallest unit of ordinary matter that forms a chemical element. Every solid, liquid, gas, and plasma is composed of neutral or ionized atoms. They are incredibly small, typically around 100 picometers across. Atomic Structure Atoms are made of three main subatomic particles: Licensed by Google : Negatively charged particles that orbit the nucleus
: Particles with no charge, also found in the nucleus. They provide stability and contribute to the atom's mass. Every solid, liquid, gas, and plasma is composed
: Positively charged particles located in the center of the atom (the nucleus). The number of protons determines the identity of the element. They provide stability and contribute to the atom's mass
: Most of an atom's volume is actually empty space. If an atom were expanded to the size of a football stadium, the nucleus would be the size of a marble in the center, and the electrons would be like tiny gnats buzzing around the highest seats.